Decoding Gucci’s AW16 Menswear Collection

Text by Saumya Sinha

Going back to the past is a great way of redefining the style quotient of the future. The new collection of Gucci takes the retro route

Everything that Alessandro Michele does, catches on like wildfire. The designer has left no stone unturned when it comes to redefining fashion at Gucci. For Michele, inspiration for the future lies in the past, and giving a new lease of life to bygone things remains the underlying philosophy at the Italian fashion powerhouse. Fey masculinity, vintage memorabilia and the signature geek-chic vibe which have defined the brand’s identity since 2015 lingered on in this Autumn/Winter collection. Gender-blurring silhouettes, and eccentric motifs created a sense of familiarity — things the brand’s disciple wears more often than its monogram. As the Gucci man effortlessly adapts to the new sartorial updates, he also picks up pace in the fun department. The designer sent some models out in Snoopy (the iconic comic strip character by Charles M. Schulz) T-shirts grabbing many eyeballs, and we bet we’ll see more of it on the streets and shenanigans of fashion capitals. The line continued with bright loungewear, and slender pantsuits which could double up for an after-party, followed by the outlandish velvet suits which may be too much in their entirety but can be paired with plaids for a dressy update to your staid shirts and trousers.

The show, titled ‘Poetic Reactivation’, that took place at Via Valtellina, 7 Milan, was a perfectly executed display of Michele’s ‘idea of Gucci’, as the designer would say.